State government to take minimum passing distance laws to parliament
A cyclist lucky to escape with minor injuries when her bike was hit by a truck in Ocean Grove branded laws to mandate minimum passing distances a win for road users.
Geelong
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A cyclist lucky to escape with minor injuries when her bike was hit by a truck in Ocean Grove says laws to mandate minimum passing distances is a win for road users.
The government has committed to taking minimum passing distances laws to parliament next year.
If passed the new laws would require motorists to give cyclists at least one metre clearance when overtaking in speed zones up to 60km/h, and 1.5 metres on roads with speed limits above 60km/h.
The RACV, Bicycle Network, Bike Safe and former Tour de France winner Cadel Evans have all backed minimum passing distance laws.
Cyclist Claire Breed said mandating distances for motorists to pass cyclists would boost safety on the roads.
“I would feel a lot safer on the road knowing there was a passing law,” she said.
“I hope drivers acknowledge that cyclists need some space on the road for safety. I’ve had a few close calls recently.
“Having the actual law to say you need to have 1.5m will minimise the risk of close calls.”
A research study by the Melbourne Bicycle Users Group released in 2018 found cyclists were passed at 62cm and 78cm on High St, Belmont.
The Amy Gillett Foundation has campaigned for 10 years for minimum passing distances.
Chief executive Dan Kneipp said the announcement was a huge step forward for cycling safety.
Peter Kartsidimas from the RACV said: “Many more Victorians have taken up cycling and we expect these numbers to continue to soar as people choose private vehicles instead of public transport as a result of COVID-19.”
Road Safety Minister Ben Carroll said: “We also know that giving people cycling that little bit of extra space can help us all get home safely – so we’re introducing minimum passing distances, to keep cars and cyclists safety apart and save lives on our roads.”
More than 85 cyclists have lost their lives on the state’s roads in the past decade — including six in Greater Geelong and two in the Surf Coast Shire.
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Originally published as State government to take minimum passing distance laws to parliament